Deb Templeton: U.S. is now obligated to help people of Iraq

Posted: Tuesday, January 30, 2007

I was absolutely against going to war in Iraq when President Bush was making the case for it three years ago. I understood then that invading Iraq would result in the loss of our credibility and increased terrorism around the world.

Unfortunately, the reality has turned out to be even worse. The ill-conceived military campaign in Iraq has thrown that country into chaos. It has severely strained and damaged our relationships internationally, has created more terrorists and strengthened their resolve to destroy the United States and everything it stands for. The cost in human life - military and civilian - far outweighs any benefit realized in taking down Saddam Hussein.

To the president and all who supported him in his quest for war, I say shame on you. I don't have to wait for history to pass judgment. It's already all too obvious invading Iraq was the wrong thing to do. The blind drive to strike out at someone in retaliation for 9/11 has laid the heaviest of burdens on all of humanity.

Now there's a blind drive to pull out of Iraq. Every particle of my being says doing this would be wrong. Whether or not we were in favor of starting the war, start it we did. We have a responsibility to do everything within our power to bring order back to Iraq. I don't say this lightly. I know it will require all of us to act with all the courage, humility and compassion that we can muster. However, to turn our backs on the morass in Iraq would be a huge mistake, one that could have unimaginable, even apocalyptic, ramifications.

To our representatives, senators, leaders and my fellow Americans, I want to say don't let fear and personal politics cloud your judgment. Search your souls and understand that what must be done, although not the least bit easy, is the right thing to do. Don't abandon the Iraqi people. To do so would be the greatest shame and sin of all.